Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Thun

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,656 a month against $3,388 in Thun, rent and utilities included – about $20,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Thun
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Thun

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buenos Aires and in Thun actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $3,388 in Thun.

  • Buenos Aires $1,656
  • Thun $3,388

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Buenos Aires versus $5,170 in Thun.

  • Buenos Aires $2,697
  • Thun $5,170

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Buenos Aires versus $6,952 in Thun.

  • Buenos Aires $3,737
  • Thun $6,952

Living in Buenos Aires costs roughly 51% less than in Thun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 23% above, Thun 151% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
$28.31 CHF 23.32
-32.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
$122 CHF 100
-46.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
$15.51 CHF 12.77
-14.89%
Cappuccino
$3.85 ARS 5,841
$6.45 CHF 5.31
-40.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ARS 3,020
$6.28 CHF 5.17
-68.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,430
$5.88 CHF 4.84
-72.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 ARS 5,959
$8.85 CHF 7.29
-55.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ARS 7,003
$7.67 CHF 6.32
-39.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ARS 2,272
$2.13 CHF 1.76
-29.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ARS 3,837
$2.99 CHF 2.46
-15.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ARS 2,445
$3.13 CHF 2.58
-48.56%
Eggs
$2.84 ARS 4,316
$7.60 CHF 6.26
-62.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
$23.82 CHF 19.62
-56.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$26.88 CHF 22.14
-62.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
$39.26 CHF 32.34
-66.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ARS 4,366
$3.55 CHF 2.92
-18.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ARS 3,334
$1.96 CHF 1.61
12.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ARS 2,120
$2.65 CHF 2.18
-47.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 3,004
$4.73 CHF 3.90
-58.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ARS 1,835
$1.56 CHF 1.28
-22.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,910
$2.00 CHF 1.65
-37.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ARS 2,592
$2.19 CHF 1.80
-21.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,603
$1.28 CHF 1.05
34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ARS 6,505
$11.25 CHF 9.26
-61.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 ARS 8,645
$12.09 CHF 9.96
-52.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ARS 3,288
$2.26 CHF 1.86
-3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ARS 4,188
$2.92 CHF 2.41
-5.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,141
$4.49 CHF 3.70
-83.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
$100 CHF 82.6
-72.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ARS 2,375
$8.04 CHF 6.62
-80.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ARS 1,558
$4.53 CHF 3.73
-77.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
$82.9 CHF 68.3
-90.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,160
$2.38 CHF 1.96
-40.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
$42.5K CHF 35.0K
-34.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
$39.4K CHF 32.5K
-11.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ARS 296.2K
$289 CHF 238
-32.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
$46.36 CHF 38.18
-45.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
$62.8 CHF 51.7
-49.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
$89.8 CHF 74.0
-43.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
$46.01 CHF 37.89
-63.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
$23.22 CHF 19.12
-55.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ARS 703.2K
$3,058 CHF 2,519
-84.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
$30.5K CHF 25.1K
-71.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.8K
$144 CHF 119
-16.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
$78.8 CHF 64.9
21.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$159 CHF 131
-28.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 ARS 211.4K
$192 CHF 158
-27.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ARS 1.1M
$1,685 CHF 1,388
-55.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ARS 788.8K
$1,432 CHF 1,180
-63.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
$2,842 CHF 2,341
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
$2,457 CHF 2,023
-51.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
$16.2K CHF 13.4K
-83.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
$11.8K CHF 9,721
-83.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Thun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$938 ARS 1.4M
$5,785 CHF 4,765
-83.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
2.42
2265.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Last update for Thun: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$520
Thun
$1.4K 176% $913
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$283
Thun
$556 96.1% $272
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$282
Thun
$459 62.8% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$252
Thun
$398 58.2% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Thun
$258 22.5% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$72
Thun
$136 90.3% $65
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Thun
$149 303% $112

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Buenos Aires and $1,685 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 517% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Buenos Aires vs $122 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $556 per month, with Buenos Aires cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇨🇭 Thun
🕒 Local time
04:35 4:35 AM
09:35 9:35 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
43,905
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Thun 11,190 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Thun

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Buenos Aires vs Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Thun?
Buenos Aires and Thun differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($1,656 vs $3,388 including rent). Buenos Aires is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 517% lower in Thun. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Thun?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Buenos Aires versus $1,685 in Thun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Thun?
Childcare runs $463 in Buenos Aires versus $3,058 in Thun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 96% higher in Thun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $3,388 in Thun, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Thun. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Thun?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buenos Aires or Thun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Thun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Thun?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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